The sky in Fujairah is filled with smoke from burning oil facilities, and ships are anchored near the port of Fujairah (AP Photo)

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An Indian-flagged oil tanker was attacked on Saturday while loading crude oil at the oil terminal of Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates. The ship sailed safely the next day and no one on board was injured.According to a government statement, the vessel, named ‘Jag Laadki’, departed from Fujairah at 10:30 am IST carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil and was bound for India. Officials confirmed that the ship and all Indian seafarers on board are safe.“On March 14, 2026, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked while the Indian-flagged vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at Fujairah’s single point mooring. The vessel safely sailed from Fujairah at 1030 UTC today (Sunday), bound for India, carrying approximately 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a release.“The ship and all Indian seafarers on board are safe,” it added.The Jag Laadki is the fourth Indian-flagged ship to emerge from the conflict-affected area unscathed. Its safe departure is considered important as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz affect shipping activity and energy supplies in the region.Earlier on Saturday, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers – Shivalik and Nanda Devi – successfully transited the war-torn Strait of Hormuz carrying a cargo of around 92,712 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Shivalik is expected to arrive at Mundra port in Gujarat on March 16, while Nanda Devi is scheduled to dock at Kandla port a day later.The two vessels are among 24 that have been stranded on the western side of the strait since hostilities in the area began. Four other ships were trapped on the east side.One of the Indian-flagged oil tankers, the Jag Prakash, crossed the strait on Friday after loading gasoline from the Omani port of Sohar. The flight is currently bound for Tanga, Tanzania and is expected to arrive on March 21.Authorities said that while the situation continued to be closely monitored, Indian ships and sailors operating in the area remained safe. Currently, 22 Indian-flagged ships carrying 611 seafarers remain on the western side of the Persian Gulf.India still relies heavily on energy imports, with about 88% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas and 60% of liquefied petroleum gas coming from overseas markets. Before the conflict escalated following the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, more than half of India’s crude oil imports, as well as about 30% of its natural gas and up to 90% of its liquefied petroleum gas, came from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The conflict disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global energy supplies. While India has partially offset the impact of crude oil supply disruptions by increasing purchases from countries such as Russia, gas supplies to industrial users have been reduced, as has LPG supplies to commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants.The Indian government said maritime authorities are still in constant coordination with stakeholders to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers.“The Directorate General of Shipping will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with shipowners, RPSL agencies and Indian missions,” the latest update said.It added that since the launch of the DG Shipping control room, the authority has handled 2,995 calls and more than 5,357 emails from seafarers, their families and other maritime stakeholders seeking information and assistance.So far, 276 Indian seafarers have been repatriated safely from the Gulf, including 23 within 24 hours.Officials said that as the maritime situation evolves, ports across India are also closely monitoring ship movements and cargo operations, while the Shipping Ministry continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and shipping companies to ensure the safety of Indian crews and continuity of maritime trade.